Ohio State head coach Ryan Day issued a challenge to his lead back during Tuesday's press conference.
Ohio State head coach Ryan Day is trying to find a solution for his running back room. It is critical in a potentially 16-game season to have at least two running backs that you can count on to manage the hits that one guy can take.
On his quest to find his second running back behind Bo Jackson, he may have uncovered a guy who could overtake Bo as the starting running back.
Florida transfer Ja'Kobi Jackson has made the most of his opportunities in his first three games as a Buckeye. He has definitely taken the second running back position away from Isaiah West and is closing the gap between himself and Bo.
During Tuesday's press conference, Day was either pushing the buttons of his starting running back, or he was telling the truth that Bo needs to be better. He referenced the face the Ja'Kobi had been running harder than Bo, especially evident on Saturday against the Kent State Golden Flashes.
Going back to the start of the season, Ja'Kobi burst onto the scene against Ball State and matched Bo's output from that first game. Bo finished that game with 83 yards on nine carries, while Ja'Kobi finished with 83 yards on eight carries.
Then, in week two, it was largely the Bo show as he toted the ball 19 times for a total of 73 yards. He showed good explosion and decent quickness, making easy work of the Longhorns in the first half.
Right now, at least in Day's eyes, the difference was their performance against Kent State. In the game, Bo wasn't bad by any stretch. He finished with `11 carries for 73 yards but had a handful of no-gainers that he absolutely wants back.
Ja'Kobi, on the other hand, showed some good explosion with 47 yards on just eight carries, two of which went for a score.
Good coaches push their best players' buttons, and it would appear that Day is doing that with Bo. He hasn't been bad, and I believe he is maxing out his abilities right now. At this point in his career, he doesn't have breakaway speed, and he has to win with toughness. He does that, but Day wants more.
The good consolation prize for this team is that the result is going to be two players who are going to have valuable and important carries for the Buckeyes this year. The running back room is in good shape, but as any good coach would, Ryan Day wants more.
